Word Origin & History

"state of wakefulness," Old English -wacu (as in nihtwacu "night watch"), related to watch; and partly from Old Norse vaka "vigil, eve before a feast," related to vaka "be awake" (cf. Old High German wahta "watch, vigil," Middle Dutch wachten "to watch, guard;" see wake (v.)). Meaning "a sitting up at night with a corpse" is attested from early 15c. (the verb in this sense is recorded from mid-13c.). The custom largely survived as an Irish activity. Wakeman (c.1200), which survives as a surname, was Middle English for "watchman."

Example Sentences for waked

"When you came through the town you waked me up like a whiplash," he was saying.

As soon as they waked and felt like going home, he was ready to take them.

I've seen as much myself when I waked up in the middle of the night.

Dan waked him at twelve for his vigil, and he in turn was wakened at two.

I could hardly get you waked,' said Charley, who stood there in his shirt.

The man who had waked him grasped him by the lapel of his coat.

He was waked from his thoughts by a knock and a voice at the door.

People who have never been waked up are apt to be dull people.

Now you've got all cool and waked up, you run back to bed, unless you'll get in here.